All-Gal Races Lure Women: See Jane Run, See Jane Bond

IT'S NOT THAT WOMEN don't like running with men. "But sometimes it's fun not to compete with them," says Andrea Vincent, 39, the Fairfax-based founder of SeeMOMMYrun.com, which helps its 36,000 members find other women to walk, jog or sprint with.

That's why, in the spirit of women-only gyms, a slew of new races are catering to the fairer sex. In addition to having a more pronounced estrogen presence in the field — although several allow guys to run, too — organizers are altering the events to take into account what ladies like.

On June 1, the Zooma Women's Race Series (Zoomarun.com) will launch with a half-marathon and 10K in Annapolis. Developed by 28-year-old Arlingtonian Brae Blackley, Zooma will be up and running in Atlanta this fall, and in Austin and Denver in 2009. San Francisco and Chicago are slated for 2010.

The schedule is ambitious, but Blackley is sure of her formula: Give the gals a good time with a post-race party (wine samples, spa treatments and live music), mark their accomplishment with a silver necklace instead of a clunky medal, and do anything possible to make it easier to participate. Packets can be picked up over several days at various stores throughout the area, so moms don't have to drag their kids to a crazy expo, and the online training program includes access to a coach (Gracie Updike of Graciesgearandtraining.com) who's available to answer questions.

"I think that women don't run differently, but they're looking for an experience rather than a race," says Blackley, who hopes her series will lure women who have been wary of co-ed crowds.

It certainly caught the attention of 31-year-old Heather Morris-Glass of Silver Spring. The new mom, along with a friend from Stroller Strides (Strollerstrides.com), another popular group for women, are training for the half-marathon together — a distance Morris-Glass had previously found daunting.

"I don't want to do it competitively. I just want to finish it," she explains. "I felt like at this race there would be more people like me."

Even speedsters who are in it to win it think the atmosphere will be more comfortable.

"There's camaraderie, because women like to get chatty. I'll run a seven-minute mile and still want to socialize," admits Vincent.

But running 13.1 miles is 13.1 miles, no matter who you run it with, says Judy Molnar, vice president of Iron Girl (Irongirl.com), an event series that's been organizing races, duathlons and triathlons since 2004. Iron Girl courses are tough, but friendlier attitudes make for a more pleasant experience, even as participants struggle to finish.

"They help each other during the transitions, and when they bump each other in the swim, everyone says sorry," she adds.

The hottest ticket in all-girls' running is the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco this October — which, even with 20,000 slots, booked up so quickly in 2007 that the organizers switched to a lottery model for 2008. Since launching in 2005 with the slogan "Run like a girl," it's been a hot ticket, thanks to its scenic route, motivators at each mile marker (cheerleaders, DJs, a chocolate station) and, of course, the unforgettable ending.

"When you cross the finish line, firemen in tuxes are waiting for you with a blue Tiffany box," says Nike spokeswoman Jacie Prieto. "You wear that necklace with such pride because you know it's not available through retail."

And probably also because you know you've come a really long way.